14 DAY TRIAL // Over the last few years, Ethiopia was hit by several drought waves, which relentlessly crippled the nation's electricity production, seeing how most regions are powered up by hydroelectric power plants. That's why national authorities recently inked a deal with the French company Vergent, which is to begin construction of the largest wind farm in Africa as soon as possible.
The nation's dwindling power supply forced numerous schools and hospitals to conduct their activities in total black-outs for ever-increasing periods of time over the past few months. The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPC) signed the deal in the hopes of releasing some of the pressure that is now put on water-generated electricity supplies. The contract the two corporations signed is worth a whopping 220 million Euros, some 300 million dollars.
"This is a very strategic project for us. The first in Africa for wind energy production with 120 megawatts, that is to say 15 percent of our present capacity," explained Meheret Debebe, chairman of EEPC. The farm is expected to produce no less than 120 megawatts of energy over two and a half years, the French company predicts. This is one sixth of Ethiopia's current power production.
The signing of the document was a real event, with honored guests from both nations attending. Anne-Marie Idrac, French Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said in a speech "It [the contract] is also very symbolic of France's commitment to developping renewable energies." Truly, in Europe, many countries have already begun taking concrete actions to reduce the levels of their carbon emissions.
The construction of the wind farm is scheduled to begin this year, but predictions as to when it will be finished are premature. Authorities from both countries hope to get it on-line as soon as possible, as profits, on one side, and electricity, on the other, are very much required even now.